Lubango | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

While descending to Lubango Airport following an uneventful flight from Luanda, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with heavy rain falls and low ceiling. In such conditions, the aircraft struck the slope of a mountain located 16 km northwest of runway 10 threshold. One passenger survived while 16 other occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

A possible loss of control after the pilot-in-command suffered a spatial disorientation while descending in IMC conditions.

Crash of a Boeing 737-2M2 in Lubango: 130 killed

Date & Time: Nov 8, 1983 at 1520 LT

Type of aircraft:

Boeing 737-200

Operator:

Registration:

D2-TBN

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Lubango - Luanda

MSN:

22775

YOM:

1982

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

123

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

130

Circumstances:

After takeoff from Lubango Airport, while in initial climb at an altitude of 200 feet, the aircraft was hit by a surface-to-air missile. The aircraft turned to the left then lost height and crashed in a huge explosion about 800 meters past the runway end. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and none of the 130 occupants survived the crash.

Probable cause:

Shot down by a UNITA SAM-7 surface-to-air missile.

Crash of a Yakovlev Yak-40 in Matala: 29 killed

Date & Time: Jun 8, 1980 at 1532 LT

Type of aircraft:

Yakovlev Yak-40

Operator:

Registration:

D2-TYC

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Jamba - Lubango

MSN:

9 72 17 53

YOM:

1977

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

17 minutes after its takeoff from Jamba Airport, while in cruising altitude, the three engine airplane was shot down by the pilot of a Zambian Shenyang J-6 fighter plane. Out of control, it entered a dive and crashed in a field located in Matala. All 29 occupants were killed. Angolan authorities confirmed the aircraft was shot down by mistake.

Probable cause:

Shot down by the pilot of a Zambian Shenyang J-6 fighter plane.

Crash of a Cessna 402A near Sa da Bandeira

Date & Time: Aug 24, 1971

Type of aircraft:

Cessna 402

Operator:

Sociedad Angolana de Taxis Aéreos

Registration:

CR-LKC

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

402A-0087

YOM:

1969

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The pilot encountered unknown technical problems and decided to perform an emergency landing about 40 km from Sa da Bandeira (now Lubango). The aircraft was damaged beyond repair and the pilot was slightly injured.

Crash of a Beechcraft D18S in Luanda: 2 killed

Date & Time: Aug 28, 1954

Type of aircraft:

Beechcraft D18

Operator:

Registration:

CR-LCJ

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Lubango – Luanda

MSN:

A-568

YOM:

1951

Location:

Luanda-4 de Fevereiro

Luanda

Country:

Angola

Region:

Africa

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

On final approach to Luanda Airport, the twin engine aircraft went out of control and crashed in Estrada de Catete, about 2 km north of the airfield. Both pilots were killed while both passengers were injured.

Probable cause:

Loss of control on final approach caused by an engine failure.